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Insilico AI-designed drug rentosertib lowers biological-age markers by up to six years in small IPF trial

September 7, 2026 at 13:08 EDT

Healthcare
Research & Papers
Foundation Models

Insilico Medicine reported that rentosertib, an experimental lung-disease drug designed with generative AI, reduced predicted biological age on six independent proteomic aging clocks in a small clinical analysis, with one clock showing a drop of as much as six years. The findings, published Monday in Nature Biotechnology, are preliminary and do not prove that patients became younger in a clinical sense.

Sept 7, 2026 · Insilico Medicine

AI-designed lung drug shifts aging clocks younger

Rentosertib, a TNIK inhibitor built with generative AI for IPF, reduced predicted biological age on six independent proteomic clocks in a 42-patient analysis. Results are preliminary and do not prove clinical rejuvenation.

Independent clocks, all younger vs placebo

~3–4 yr

Typical reversal at week 4, 30 mg BID

up to 6 yr

Upper end on one clock — not the center

Patients with proteomic samples of 71 in Phase IIa

Predicted-age drop, week 4 (30 mg twice daily)

Vertical columns are proportional to reported years of clock reversal. Placebo showed little change.

~0 yr

Placebo

~3.5 yr

Typical clocks

up to 6 yr

One clock, peak

Takeaway: the headline six-year figure is the upper bound; most clocks clustered near three to four years.

From AI target to clock readout

1 · Target

PandaOmics flags TNIK for fibrosis and aging

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2 · Molecule

Chemistry42 designs rentosertib (~18 months)

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3 · IPF trial

Phase IIa: FVC +98.4 mL vs −20.3 mL placebo

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4 · Clocks

Six proteomic models scored 2,841 proteins

What supporters highlight

All six clocks, built independently, moved in the same direction. Agreement, not the peak number, is the main claim.

What remains unresolved

Cannot yet separate slower aging from a treated lung. Sample is 42 IPF patients; clocks are not a licensed endpoint; healthy-volunteer data are missing.

A hypothesis with a Phase III lung trial underway — not a longevity approval

Rentosertib is in Phase III for IPF in China. Proteomic age is not a regulatory endpoint. Liver-related discontinuations occurred in the Phase IIa study. Effects beyond 12 weeks and outside IPF are unknown.

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